[cobirds] Bird Conservancy of the Rockies- Chico Basin Ranch Banding Station Report- September 27, 2024

Even though it started to get warm about mid-morning, I was wondering what the early North wind was going to bring as far as birds. It was a little birdier with a couple flocks of juncos and chipping sparrows. I had been hearing a Gray Catbird for several days and not catching it in the nets. Today there were several unbanded Hermit Thrushes flitting around the banding table area and walking up the paths. It was kind of funny watching them- maybe they were sticking their tongues out at me. I could not tell.

 A Sharp-shinned Hawk was being harassed by Blue Jays today. It was an immature bird I saw but could not see if it was the Sharp-shinned we banded yesterday. The highlights for the day were Ovenbird (none banded since Sept 5th), 2 Field Sparrows and a Slate-colored Junco. I see lots of them in Ohio but when I see them with the other subspecies here- sometimes I wonder. The Slate-colored Junco in the west breeds in western Canada. Regardless, I am glad Peter Pyle has revised his Part 1 Manual for aging and sexing passerines; as I learned another characteristic to look for on Slate-colored Juncos- the 4th Rectrix (tail feather) has some reduced white in it. The outer two tail feathers (R5 and R6 have white in Oregon Juncos. 

46 New Banded Birds

Wilson's Warbler- 4

Orange-crowned Warbler- 4

Audubon's (Yellow-rumped) warbler- 4

Ovenbird-1

Ruby-crowned Kinglet- 3

Field Sparrow- 2

Chipping Sparrow- 8

Oregon Junco- 8

Slate-colored Junco- 1

Vesper Sparrow- 1

Lincoln's Sparrow- 2

Gambel's (white-crowned) Sparrow- 3

Hermit Thrush- 3

Gray Catbird- 1

Blue Jay- 1

3 Recaptured Hermit Thrushes- all gaining weight up to 2 grams!!!

The Banding Station will be open tomorrow from sunrise until around 11:30 AM. Stop on by the banding station and tell us your sightings.  Thanks to the birders who have shared their knowledge and sightings with me. It is very appreciated.

Many thanks to the Volunteers who have and are assisting at the banding station. We (I) never can guess when the birds will fall out of the sky but it is nice to know there is help here when it might happen.

Remember to go to the Aiken Audubon Society website for registering for birding access to the Ranch. 

www.aikenaudubon.com

Have a good day,

Julie Shieldcastle

Chico Basin Ranch, Bander

Bird Conservancy of the Rockies

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